MAC-D Multiplexing in UTRAN HSDPA Wireless Networks

ABSTRACT

UTRAN MAC-d multiplexing of data from multiple logical channels to a single MAC-d flow is supported while reducing overhead and achieving octet alignment in MAC-d PDU length. In one embodiment, the C/T field of a multiplexed MAC-d PDU is eliminated, and the logical channels multiplexed into the MAC-d flow are mapped to a MAC-hs PQ in at least the NodeB (and preferably in the UE as well). In other embodiments, the C/T field is retained, and an octet-aligned length indicator is transmitted from the RNC to the UE. In one embodiment, the length indicator is octet-aligned by padding the MAC-d PDUs. In another embodiment, transmitters and receivers in the path from RNC to UE are configured with an offset to add to the length indicator to achieve octet alignment. The padding or offset is (8−n) bits, where n=the number of bits in C/T field.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/835,744 entitled “Improved MAC-D Multiplexing in UTRAN HSDPA Wireless Networks,” filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which application is a continuation application of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/519,333 entitled “Improved MAC-D Multiplexing in UTRAN HSDPA Wireless Networks,” filed on Jun. 15, 2009 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,467,421 on Jun. 18, 2013, which is a national stage entry of PCT application PCT/SE2007/050996 entitled “Improved MAC-D Multiplexing in UTRAN HSDPA Wireless Networks,” filed on Dec. 14, 2007, and which claims priority from foreign application SE0602746-0 filed Dec. 15, 2006. Each of the '744 application, '333 application, the '996 application, and the '746-0 application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wireless communications, and in particular, to efficient support of dedicated Medium Access Control (MAC-d) multiplexing in UTRAN HSDPA.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to downlink data transfer in a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN). A UTRAN wireless communication network 10 is depicted in FIG. 1. The UTRAN network comprises a Core Network (CN) 12, a plurality of Radio Network Controllers (RNC) 14, and plurality of NodeBs 20, also known in the art as Base Stations, each providing communication services to one or more User Equipment (UE) 24, also known as mobile stations, across an air interface within a cell or sector 26.

The CN 12 may be communicatively coupled to other networks such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the Internet, a GSM network, or the like. Each RNC includes, among other functional modules, a Radio Link Protocol (RLC) 16 and a dedicated Medium Access Control (MAC-d) 18. The RLC 16 transfers data to the MAC-d 18 on a plurality of logical channels 17. With the advent of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), the NodeB 20 communicates with each UE 24 on dedicated channels and additionally broadcasts data packets throughout the cell 26 on a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH).

HSDPA utilizes channel-dependent scheduling, whereby data directed to each UE 24 is scheduled for transmission on the shared channel when the instantaneous channel quality to that UE 24 is high. Similarly, fast rate control and higher order modulation are used for link adaptation, wherein the data rate of each transport block and the modulation scheme are varied in response to channel conditions to the target UE 24 (and the capability of the UE 24). In addition, HSDPA employs a hybrid-ARQ (HARQ) acknowledgement scheme, wherein soft values of unsuccessfully decoded transport blocks are retained and combined with the soft decoding results of each retransmission. This allows for incremental redundancy, reducing the need for further retransmissions. Because the scheduling, rate adaptation, and HARQ functions must be close to the radio interface on the network side, a high speed Medium Access Control (MAC-hs) function 22 is added to the NodeB 20. A MAC-ehs function (not shown) is additionally provided in UE 24 capable of receiving HSDPA traffic.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard defines MAC-d multiplexing, whereby data from a plurality of logical channels may be multiplexed into one MAC-d flow and encapsulated into MAC-d Protocol Data Units (PDUs). This functionality was developed for Release-99 channels, when priority-based scheduling on transport channels was performed entirely in the RNC 14. To distinguish the logical channel, a 4-bit C/T field is added to a multiplexed MAC-d PDU header (non-multiplexed PDUs need not include the C/T field). The logical channels that are MAC-d multiplexed in the RNC 14 are handled as one MAC-d flow through the Transport Network (i.e., between the RNC 14 and the NodeB 20 over the Iub) and, typically, as one priority flow (or queue) over the air interface. This enables data from a number of Radio Bearers (RB) to be transmitted over a single MAC-d flow, reducing the number of Priority Queues (PQs) in the NodeB. Additionally, with fewer MAC-d flows, the number of transport network links is reduced, which may alleviate address space constraints in UE 24 having limited MAC-d flow capacity.

The multiplexing MAC-d functionality is depicted in FIG. 2. A C/T multiplexer 28 multiplexes data from a plurality of logical channels into one MAC-d flow. The C/T MUX Priority Controller 30 only performs priority setting for the downlink if the C/T mux 28 is removed. FIG. 3 depicts the mapping of MAC-d flows into PQs 32 in the MAC-hs 22 in the NodeB 20. The reordering of PDUs in MAC-hs functionality in the UE 24 is depicted in FIG. 4. The reordering is performed on a per-PQ 32 basis; thus the UE 24 must configure as many reordering queues 34 as there are PQs 32.

The above-described system is deficient in several respects. First, the MAC-d PDU is ideally octet-aligned. The MAC-d receives RLC PDUs, which are octet-aligned in both acknowledged mode (AM) and unacknowledged mode (UM). However, by adding a 4-bit C/T field to the header, the MAC-d PDUs are no longer octet-aligned. This is problematic for the design of new headers, such as for encapsulating the data in lower network protocol layers, as many headers include a length indicator (LI) indicating the size of the MAC-d PDU. Non-octet alignment means more bits are required for the LI. Non-octet-aligned protocol structures also require more processing.

Second, the multiplexing with the C/T field generates unnecessary overhead, reducing the effective bandwidth of the air interface. A multiplexed MAC-d PDU header includes a 4-bit C/T field indicating a logical channel associated with the data. The MAC-hs later adds an additional 3-bit field indicating the PQ from which a MAC-d PDU is taken for transmission over the air interface. Accordingly, a total of seven bits are used to indicate the logical channel origin of the MAC-d PDU, when only four or five bits are actually needed.

Removal of the C/T field from the header of a multiplexed MAC-d PDU would alleviate both deficiencies. A straightforward solution for then identifying the logical channel origin of the data would be to assign a one-to-one mapping between logical channels and PQs 32, and perform reordering in the UE 24 on a per-logical channel basis. However, this would result in a proliferation of separated MAC-d flows and PQs 32, increasing processing demands in both the NodeB 20 and UE 24. It would also radically alter the multiplexing structure of the MAC by removing the concepts of MAC-d flows and PQs 32. Accordingly, a need exists in the art to maintain the multiplexing structure defined in the MAC but remove or mitigate the deleterious effects of the C/T field, while maintaining the ability to implement a low number of MAC-d flows and PQs 32.

SUMMARY

According to one or more embodiments disclosed and claimed herein, the number of MAC-d flows and PQs is conserved by multiplexing data from multiple logical channels, while framing overhead and non-octet-alignment processing is reduced. In one embodiment, the C/T field of a multiplexed MAC-d PDU is eliminated, and the logical channels multiplexed into the MAC-d flow are mapped to a MAC-hs PQ in at least the NodeB (and preferably a MAC-ehs in the UE as well). In other embodiments, the C/T field is retained, and an octet-aligned length indicator is transmitted from the RNC to the UE. In one embodiment, the length indicator is octet-aligned by padding the MAC-d PDUs. In another embodiment, transmitters and receivers in the path from RNC to UE are configured with an offset to add to the length indicator to achieve octet alignment. The padding or offset is (8−n) bits, where n=the number of bits in C/T field.

One embodiment relates to a method of transmitting data in a UTRAN wireless communication network without C/T fields. Data are received from two or more radio bearers on two or more respective logical channels at a MAC-d. The data from two or more logical channels are multiplexed into a single MAC-d flow. The multiplexed MAC-d flow is encapsulated into MAC-d PDUs without a C/T field identifying the logical channels in MAC-d PDU headers. Two or more logical channels are mapped to a PQ in a MAC-hs. A logical channel identifier is transmitted from a RNC to a UE.

Other embodiments relate to a method of transmitting data in a UTRAN wireless communication network with C/T fields. Data are received from two or more radio bearers on two or more respective logical channels at a MAC-d. The data from two or more logical channels are multiplexing into a single MAC d flow. The multiplexed MAC-d flow is encapsulated into MAC-d PDUs. A C/T field is included in MAC-d PDU headers identifying the logical channels. A length indicator is added to MAC-hs and Iub framing protocols identifying an octet aligned length of a MAC-d PDU. In one embodiment, the length indicator is octet-aligned by padding multiplexed MAC-d PDUs with (8−n) bits, where n=the number of bits in the C/T field. In another embodiment, a transmitter and receiver are configured with an offset of (8−n) bits such that the LI adjusted by the offset is octet-aligned, where n=the number of bits in C/T field.

Another embodiment relates to a wireless communication network. The network includes a RNC including a MAC-d operative to receive data from two or more radio bearers on two or more respective logical channels, multiplex the data from two or more logical channels into a single MAC-d flow, and encapsulate the multiplexed MAC-d flow into MAC-d PDUs without a C/T field identifying the logical channels in MAC-d PDU headers. The network also includes a NodeB including a MAC-hs operative to direct MAC-d flows to one or more PQs, wherein two or more logical channels are mapped to at least one PQ. The RNC transmits a logical channel identifier with the multiplexed MAC-d flows to UE.

Other embodiments relate to a wireless communication network. The network includes a RNC including a MAC-d operative to receive data from two or more radio bearers on two or more respective logical channels, multiplex the data from two or more logical channels into a single MAC-d flow, encapsulate the multiplexed MAC-d flow into MAC-d PDUs including a C/T field identifying the logical channels in MAC-d PDU headers, and transmit the MAC-d PDUs and an octet-aligned length indicator to a NodeB. The network also includes a NodeB operative to receive the MAC-d PDUs and the octet-aligned length indicator, and operative to encapsulate the MAC-d PDUs into MAC-hs PDUs including the octet-aligned length indicator in a Priority Queue Identifier (PQID) field of the MAC-hs PDUs. In one embodiment, the MAC-d is further operative to pad multiplexed MAC-d PDUs with (8−n) bits to octet-align the MAC-d PDU length, where n=the number of bits in the C/T field. In another embodiment, the RNC and NodeB are configured with an offset of (8−n) bits such that the length indicator adjusted by the offset is octet-aligned, where n=the number of bits in the C/T field.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding, reference is made to the following drawings and preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a UTRAN wireless communication network.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a MAC-d functional module in a RNC.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a MAC-hs functional module in a NodeB.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a MAC-ehs functional module in UE.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method of transmitting data without C/T fields.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method of transmitting data with C/T fields.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to any non-limiting example. Consider a UE configured with five (5) logical channels. Four channels carry data from signaling radio beacons (SRBs), indexed 0, 1, 2, and 3. Logical channel ID (LCH-ID) 4 is carrying “best effort” data. The SRBs are, according to existing art, MAC-d multiplexed, meaning that the MAC-d PDUs will be non-octet aligned for this first MAC-d flow. PDUs in the second MAC-d flow carrying LCH-ID 4 have no C/T field and are therefore octet aligned. The prior art would therefore result in two MAC-d flows that would typically be mapped onto two separate priority queues, e.g., PQ 0 and PQ 1. The length indicator in the lub framing protocol and MAC-hs cannot be quantified in bytes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, multiple LCH-IDs (here, 0, 1, 2, and 3) are mapped onto one MAC-d flow. MAC-d multiplexing is implemented without a C/T field in the MAC-d PDU headers. The LCH-ID is made available in the frame protocol responsible for transporting the MAC-d PDUs from the RNC to the Node B, e.g., the Iub. Multiple Logical Channels (0-3) are mapped onto the same Priority Queue 32 (e.g. PQ 0), and the priority queue field of the MAC-hs PDU header is replaced by the LCH-ID (here 0, 1, 2, or 3). Thus, the first PQ 32 is identified if the LCH-ID is one out of the aforementioned, configured values.

The mapping of multiple logical channels to a PQ 32 is configured by applications higher in the network protocol stack, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC), NodeB Application Part (NBAP) or Radio Network Subsystem Application Part (RNSAP). These upper layer applications configure the mappings to the NodeB 20 and UE 24. In this example, LCH-ID 4 is configured to be carried over a separate MAC-d flow, and the data may be configured to a separate PQ 32 by upper layer applications.

As described above, one step of this embodiment of the present invention is to configure a mapping from LCH-IDs to PQs 32. This is required at least in the NodeB 20, and is preferably also done in the UE 24, in order to retain the current PQ abstraction layer. The LCH-ID is transmitted over the Iub, for example in the HS-DSCH data frame header, and is thus known per MAC-d PDU. When the HS-DSCH data frame is decoded in the NodeB 20, the MAC-d PDUs are either directed to the correct PQs 32 according to the mapping between the LCH-ID and PQ 32 (i.e., reordering is performed per PQ 32), or alternatively there will be one PQ 32 per LCH. When a MAC-d PDU is taken from a PQ 32 and encapsulated into a MAC-hs PDU in the Node B 20, the LCH-ID is added to the MAC-hs header in lieu of the PQID field.

In the UE 24, if the LCH-ID mapping from PQs 32 has not been configured, the re-ordering of MAC-hs PDUs is done on a per-LCH-ID basis. However, to reduce the number (and hence cost) of re-ordering queues, it would be advantageous to have a mapping between the PQs 32 and the LCH-IDs, which would enable reordering per-PQ 32 instead of per-LCH. The reordering methodology affects the MAC-hs header, since Transmission Sequence Numbers (TSN) need to be assigned per reordering entity.

A method 100 of transmitting data in a UTRAN wireless communication network according to this embodiment of the present invention is depicted in flow diagram form in FIG. 5. Although depicted as successive steps, those of skill in the art will recognize that all method steps need not be performed in the order shown; in particular, the configuration or mapping step may advantageously be performed only once for a given sequence of data transfers to a particular UE 24. Furthermore, those of skill in the art will recognize that the method is ongoing. Nevertheless, for the purposes of discussion, the method “begins” by receiving data from two or more Radio Beacons on two or more respective logical channels at a MAC-d 18 in the RNC 14 (step 102). The MAC-d 18 multiplexes the data from two or more logical channels into a single MAC-d flow (step 104). The MAC-d 18 then encapsulates the multiplexed MAC-d flow into MAC-d PDUs without C/T fields in the PDU headers (block 106). A higher layer application maps the two or more logical channels to a single Priority Queue 32 in a MAC-hs 22 in at least the NodeB 20 (block 108), and preferably additionally in a MAC-ehs in a UE 24. A logical channel identifier is then transmitted from the RNC 14 to the UE 24 (block 110), such as in the HS-DSCH data frame header on the Iub between the RNC 14 and NodeB 20, and in the PQID field of MAC-hs PDUs over the air interface from the NodeB 20 to the UE 24.

In this embodiment, the MAC multiplexing structure is retained, the number of MAC-d flows and PQs 32 is limited, and the C/T field is removed from MAC-d PDU headers. This reduces the protocol overhead and results in an octet-alignment of MAC-d PDUs, facilitating the use of a length indicator in Iub and MAC-hs framing protocols.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the C/T field in multiplexed MAC-d PDU headers is retained and the MAC-d PDU is octet-aligned by adding suitable number of padding bits, i.e., (8−n) where n is the number of bits in the C/T field (e.g., 4 for a 4-bit C/T field). This allows an octet-aligned length-indicator to be introduced in the MAC-hs and Iub framing protocols, simplifying processing of the resulting PDUs.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the C/T field in multiplexed MAC-d PDU headers is retained. The Iub framing protocol and MAC-hs protocol include a Length Indicator indicating the length of MAC-d PDUs in bytes. In this embodiment, the transmitting and receiving entities are configured to add the length of the C/T field to the absolute value of the Length Indicator for Logical Channels, MAC-d flows, and PQs 32 for MAC-d PDUs with a C/T field. In this manner, the length of both multiplexed and non-multiplexed MAC-d PDUs can be readily identified with a Length Indicator quantified to bytes. The length offset for MAC-d PDUs with a C/T field is similarly configured by upper layer applications, such as RRC, NBAP, and RNSAP.

A method 200 of transmitting data in a UTRAN wireless communication network according to either of these latter two embodiments of the present invention is depicted in flow diagram form in FIG. 6. The method “begins” by receiving data from two or more Radio Beacons on two or more respective logical channels at a MAC-d 18 in the RNC (step 202). The MAC-d 18 multiplexes the data from two or more logical channels into a single MAC-d flow (step 204). The MAC-d 18 then encapsulates the multiplexed MAC-d flow into MAC-d PDUs (step 206). The MAC-d 18 includes a C/T fields in the header of each multiplexed MAC-d PDU (block 208). A length indicator is added to the Iub and MAC-hs framing protocols identifying an octet-aligned length of a MAC-d PDU (step 210). In one embodiment, the length indicator identifies an octet-aligned length of a MAC-d PDU due to the MAC-d performing the further step of padding multiplexed MAC-d PDUs with (8−n) bits, where n is the number of bits in the C/T field. In another embodiment, the length indicator identifies an octet-aligned length of a MAC-d PDU due to higher layer protocol applications configuring the transmitter and receiver (e.g., the MAC-d 18 and MAC-hs 22 or the MAC-hs 22 and UE 24) to include an offset of (8−n) bits to the length indicator, where n is the number of bits in the C/T field.

Embodiments of the present invention allows savings in the number of PQs 32 in the NodeB 20 and in the number of MAC-d flows, and thus in the required number of transport network connections, while enabling efficient octet-aligned length indicators, which reduce framing complexity and conserve network bandwidth. In the embodiment eliminating the C/T field in multiplexed MAC-d PDU headers, air interface resources are additionally conserved by reducing the number of bits necessary to uniquely identify originating logical channels.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that the functional modules described herein, including the RLC 16, MAC-d 18, NodeB MAC-sh 22, and UE MAC-esh may be implemented as dedicated electronic circuits, as software modules executed on a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor, or in any combination of software, firmware, and hardware known in the art or yet to be developed.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of transmitting data in a UTRAN wireless communication network, comprising: receiving data from two or more radio bearers on two or more respective logical channels at a dedicated Medium Access Controller (MAC d); multiplexing the data from two or more logical channels into a single MAC d flow; encapsulating the multiplexed MAC d flow into MAC d Protocol Data Units (PDUs) without a C/T field identifying the logical channels in MAC d PDU headers; mapping two or more logical channels to a Priority Queue (PQ) in a high speed Medium Access Controller (MAC hs); and transmitting logical channel identifiers (LCH ID) from a Radio Network Controller (RNC) to a User Equipment (UE). 